Tattoos are considered really hot in today’s society. The youth of today think it’s really cool to get tattoos and people of all ages sport tattoos of all kinds. There are even shows on television dedicated to exhibiting the art of tattooing.

Tattoos are highly sought after for many reasons. Tattoos symbolize loved ones, a relationship with another person, interests and hobbies, religious affiliations or symbols. They can be created in a multitude of fashions, from black and white to vivid colors. Pictures or symbols can be taken to a tattoo salon for the artists to recreate, or designs can be created free-hand from a description given. And of course, the choice of body-part placement is an open field.

There is much controversy as to whether a person should get tattooed or not. Different people have different opinions of course, and ultimately it’s totally up to the individual’s choice.

Some say that having yourself tattooed is a way to cover up a sense of insecurity. Tattoos may attract attention to an individual that may in other cases be over-looked. Tattoos are also said to reflect a sense of rebellion in individuals that may not want to be classified as “the norm” in society.

There was a recent article about NBA players having tattoos and the theory was that the audience for this sport was declining due to way the players looked. A suggestion was made to some of the teams that are more tattooed than others, that they should cover their tattoos in an effort to portray a “cleaner” team. The cleaner teams, such as the Spurs who were noted for their “cleanness”, are supposedly the more appealing teams to watch and have a larger fan base.

Another comment was made in regards to models. If people really enjoyed looking at tattooed skin, why aren’t the most glamorous and widely viewed people in the world covered in tattoos?

Then there’s the Biblical viewpoint. Our bodies were created by God and belong to God, so therefore we should not mark them or try to modify them in any way.

I personally do not have any tattoos; however, some of the brilliantly colored tattoos are very attractive to me. Will I ever get a tattoo? Probably not, and this is my personal choice. Will I encourage my children to get tattooed? No, but my children will have to make that decision for themselves.

Should you have your body tattooed? Only you can answer that question. I can’t say whether it’s right or wrong. Ultimately it’s your personal choice and in my opinion, it’s what’s inside the person that counts. People that judge by the outward appearance of another person are possibly missing out on finding a true gem inside.